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Sonora Quest Laboratories Empowers Patients Across Arizona to Take Control of Their Health with Direct Access Testing (1)

Thursday, July 16, 2015   |   Category:

My Lab ReQuest™ allows consumers to order tests without physician orders

State lab leader offers broad access to high quality testing, including in rural areas

TEMPE, ARIZ. (July 16, 2015) – Sonora Quest Laboratories has launched My Lab ReQuest™, a new service empowering consumers in Arizona to take control of their health by ordering certain lab tests on their own. A new Arizona law, effective July 3, now allows consumers Direct Access Testing from a licensed clinical laboratory without physician orders.

 Direct Access Testing is the latest service from Sonora Quest Laboratories, the market leader, which is trusted by more doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers throughout Arizona. Sonora Quest is part of the nation’s largest integrated laboratory system, providing laboratory services to patients in settings from primary care and specialists to hospital and long-term care, and performing more than 57 million diagnostic tests annually.

 All patients across the state of Arizona will benefit from the Sonora Quest Direct Access Testing service, which is offered at all of its 70 Patient Service Centers statewide. This includes access to centers in the metropolitan areas as well as communities at all ends of the State. With locations from Kingman to Show Low and Sierra Vista to Yuma, Sonora Quest is able to reach the largest portion of Arizona residents and visitors and is the only laboratory offering Direct Access Testing to the majority of Arizona’s rural communities.

“Naturally we are pleased to help consumers play a more active role in managing their health,” said Sonora Quest Medical Director, Robert Stern, M.D. “Direct Access Testing gives consumers more choice, flexibility and control over their own health in a convenient, efficient and confidential way. This empowerment gets even better for consumers when these tests and potential follow-up actions occur as part of a strong relationship between a consumer and his or her primary health care provider.”

 All Direct Access Tests offered by Sonora Quest are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In addition, Sonora Quest’s laboratories are accredited by the College of American Pathologists, the laboratory industry’s gold-standard accrediting agency, a defining distinction of Sonora Quest’s outstanding quality and proven testing processes. To ensure consistent quality and accuracy of testing, Sonora Quest Laboratories voluntarily participates in the College of American Pathologists’ proficiency testing as well as in-depth inspections of all laboratories.

 “This is a new era in health care consumerism, and as Arizona’s leading provider of diagnostic testing and information we will do all we can to support the needs of the entire healthcare community,” said David A. Dexter, president and CEO of Sonora Quest Laboratories. “Consumers expect the most accurate and up-to-date diagnostic information to proactively manage their health so that they can make educated decisions,” Dexter said.

 With My Lab ReQuest, Sonora Quest Laboratories offers consumers a select menu of wellness health profiles and tests, including screening for environmental/pollen allergies, diabetes, heart health, immunity and infectious diseases. All tests are available via an easy online ordering form or at any of their convenient locations and are fully transparent with price clearly indicated for each test. Once completed, consumers have the choice of retrieving their results online through Sonora Quest’s Patient Portal, or having them sent by email or postal mail. 

About Sonora Quest Laboratories

Sonora Quest Laboratories, a joint venture between Banner Health and Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), is part of the nation’s largest integrated laboratory system with approximately 3,000 employees serving more than 23,000 patients every day throughout Arizona. Sonora Quest Laboratories is the market share leader in clinical laboratory testing in Arizona, performing more than 57 million diagnostic tests per year. Sonora Quest Laboratories offers a local comprehensive test menu which encompasses routine, molecular, prescription drug monitoring, cytogenetic, and pathology testing services. Ninety-eight percent of all testing is performed at our primary testing facilities located in Tempe, Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott and Yuma. Sonora Quest Laboratories is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) which is the gold standard in laboratory accreditation, helping laboratories to maintain accuracy of test results and ensure accurate patient diagnosis. This accreditation ensures the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients as CAP inspectors examine laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and records, and overall management.

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LAVIDGE 
480.998.2600
Greg Sexton,gsexton@lavidge.com
Laura Waldron, lwaldron@lavidge.com